Growth Loan

"This was actually a game theory problem. If you're interested, you can read some related Muggle books."

But no reply came from Terry beside him, only the sound of soft breathing.

Terry had already fallen asleep. After being run ragged for an entire day, children his age could drop off the moment their heads hit the pillow.

Lucien closed the book and turned to look out the window. From this room, he happened to be able to see the Forbidden Forest.

The Forbidden Forest sat right beside Hogwarts, and large numbers of magical creatures lived inside.

There were Thestrals, visible only to those who had witnessed death; enormous Acromantulas; Unicorns that served as Tom-brand blood replenishment packs; Centaurs skilled in divination...

In the future, I'll be researching the magical-creature transformation branch of Transfiguration, so I'll inevitably need to observe these magical creatures. The Forbidden Forest would be a good place for that.

But I'll definitely need to ensure my own safety first. Spells are one part of it, and I'll need to prepare the relevant potions too. And traveling back and forth between the castle and the Forbidden Forest...

He turned to glance at Terry on the bed and confirmed that he had sunk deep into dreamland.

Lucien turned back and continued looking in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.

"Liuguang."

A pale golden figure appeared directly in front of Lucien.

The little Qilin bounced happily in midair. This whole day had nearly stifled it to death.

Lucien had kept it in the system's pet space all day. Though according to the system, there were mountains and water inside, the little Qilin was still the only living thing there, so it was indeed easy for it to get bored and restless.

Lucien gently stroked Liuguang's head while also making plans.

Qilin are born able to use Apparition. They're practically the must-have "transportation" for rushing around and escaping.

But I don't quite remember. Does Hogwarts Castle prohibit magic like Apparition or not?

Thinking of this, Lucien directly sent the little Qilin a thought:

"Try it. See if you can still use Apparition."

The talent for spiritual communication helped Liuguang understand its master's meaning directly.

In an instant, the little Qilin vanished before Lucien's eyes.

Before Lucien could even blink, it flashed back into view again.

"Master, it worked!"

A childlike voice appeared directly in Lucien's mind.

Lucien smiled, a trace of delight appearing in his eyes.

"Very good!"

"Right, where did you go just now?"

Another childish voice echoed in Lucien's mind:

"Home!"

Lucien nodded, then rubbed the little Qilin's head again in praise.

Mm, there's probably still a restriction inside the castle. Otherwise, wouldn't the school that nurtures the seeds of all Britain's wizards be letting villains come and go as they pleased with magic like Apparition?

Lucien trusted the four founders of the school. Those legendary wizards of that generation couldn't possibly have failed to consider such a safety issue.

It was probably because a Qilin's innate magic was fundamentally different from wizard magic.

After all, the magical world had so many magical creatures, and they all had their own racial talents. Wizards still hadn't fully analyzed their magical abilities even now.

And Liuguang was not the local kind of qilin, but belonged to the ranks of true divine beasts.

If it was not restricted by Hogwarts and had something miraculous about it, that made sense too.

Lucien recalled the little Qilin's posture just now when it used Apparition, and felt that it was nothing like when wizards used it, that disappearance method that was like being flushed down a toilet.

The little Qilin seemed to directly merge into space. The entire process was extremely natural and swift.

They really are rather different, the magic of wizards and magical creatures.

He lowered his head to look at the little Qilin. Those large golden-red eyes were also staring at him. Short horns had not yet grown from its forehead, only two slightly raised bumps.

Liuguang is still too young. Even if it's a divine beast, its self-protection ability in childhood...

I'm a little uneasy letting it run into the Forbidden Forest like this.

Thinking of this, Lucien directly communicated with the system through his thoughts:

"System, is there any way to strengthen the little Qilin?"

[There is, host, there is. I have nine methods for this OvO]

"..."

How to put it? It felt like after coming into contact with the magical world, this system had become more active.

"Uh, just tell me the most useful one."

[Very well. The system recommends to you: Pet Growth Loan]

[There are two types of this loan: rapidly bringing a pet to the growth stage (monthly loan); rapidly bringing it to maturity (yearly loan)]

[Note: A pet in the growth stage has initially awakened all racial talents; at maturity, it has fully mastered its talents and will awaken a talent ability unique to the individual.]

Lucien rubbed his chin and glanced at the little Qilin.

"Roughly what level is Liuguang at in the growth stage? Does this kind of rapid maturation have any aftereffects on the pet? What are the tasks for the monthly loan and the yearly loan?"

Faced with Lucien's three questions in a row, the system quickly gave its answer:

[A Qilin newly entering the growth stage is equivalent to an excellent Auror among wizards, but in the field of innate magic, it far surpasses wizards of the same level.]

[There are no aftereffects. The pet only needs to sleep inside the space for one week.]

[After all, it's produced by this system~~]

[Monthly loan: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of 5 kinds of magical creatures for a period of 30 days.]

[Yearly loan: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of all magical creatures (including known and unknown species) for a period of 365 days.]

Ignoring the system's cutesy interjection in the middle, Lucien frowned and asked:

"A divine beast newly entering the growth stage is only equivalent to an excellent Auror?"

Although the system had said it surpassed the mundane in the field of innate magic, Lucien still felt it was too low, not reaching what he had expected.

[The growth stage is the period in which a divine beast's strength changes the most significantly and the fastest. The difference between the early stage and the late stage is enormous.]

[A divine beast about to enter maturity is already infinitely close to the level of a legendary wizard among humans.]

Hearing the system's explanation, Lucien's brow gradually eased, and only then did he nod.

That was still acceptable. A little Qilin in the growth stage would have the ability to protect itself. As long as it did not fight the dangerous creatures in the Forbidden Forest to the death, keeping itself safe would not be a problem.

Recording 5 kinds of magical creatures within a month was also fine. In any case, there were no specific requirements about which species to record. He could prioritize finding some less dangerous and easier-to-approach ones in the Forbidden Forest.

As for the yearly loan that could let Liuguang step straight into maturity, Lucien swept his eyes over it once and stopped considering it.

The yearly loan required recording information on all magical creatures. That was absolutely not something he could accomplish with his current strength.

And unlike perfectly mastering Transfiguration or using the Philosopher's Stone to brew potions, I can think of ways to complete those while staying inside Hogwarts.

The Forbidden Forest did not contain every magical creature, and on top of that, it specifically stated that it included both known and unknown species. If I really wanted to repay this loan, I would have to run all over the world.

Heh, Become a Magical Creature Expert as Soon as I Enroll at Hogwarts?

The little Qilin also needed to sleep for a week first. Mm, he could use this time to practice useful spells and prepare some extra potions as backup.

"System, I want to take out the pet growth monthly loan."

[OK, hope the host enjoys repaying the loan (•ᴗ•)ﾉ♡]

[Loan: Rapid Pet Growth (Monthly Loan)]

[Repayment Time Limit: 30 days]

[Loan Content: Have the pet initially reach the growth stage.]

[Loan Task: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of 5 kinds of magical creatures.]

[Evaluation: Keep it up. This is your first step toward surpassing Newt Scamander!]

Seeing the system's evaluation, Lucien smiled.

How had it dragged that introverted magical creature expert into this?

He looked up at the starlight outside the window and felt it was about time to rest.

Lucien patted the little Qilin's head.

"Good night."

Late at night, in the Hogwarts headmaster's office.

Dumbledore walked over to the shelf where the Sorting Hat was placed.

"Old friend, would you be willing to chat with me about that young fellow Lucien?"